According to the WHO, indoor and outdoor air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk, causing numerable noncommunicable diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, stroke and lung cancer as well as increasing the risk for acute respiratory infections.
HEAL works with global, European, national and local partners and decision-makers to decrease those preventable diseases and to protect those most vulnerable – pregnant women, children, the elderly and those already ill or poor.
Addressing air pollution in cities can greatly lessen disease burden and health costs
6th May 2024
HEAL and its member Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds (Mutualités Libres) organised an event under the auspices of the Belgian EU Presidency, on pathways for achieving clean air in cities. he conference took place on the eve of the European Parliament plenary vote on updated clean air standards and brought together over 300 participants. Decision-makers, scientists, NGOs and stakeholders gathered for a lively exchange on how to address air pollution in urban environments, sharing good practices and policy solutions.
Wichtige Entscheidung im EU-Parlament für saubere Luft und Gesundheit
25th April 2024
Das Europäische Parlament hat heute mit großer Mehrheit (381 Stimmen) die vorläufige Trilog-Vereinbarung zur Überarbeitung…
Press note: The EU Healthy Air Coalition welcomes European Parliament vote for cleaner air and better health
24th April 2024
The European Parliament adopted today by a large majority the provisional trilogue agreement on the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives (AAQD), to update the EU’s clean air standards dating from 2008.
Press release: Clean air in cities for better health
23rd April 2024
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to everyone's health across the EU, and one of the leading risk factors for chronic diseases. Today, pathways to reach clean air in cities by 2030 will be discussed by more than 340 participants from 33 countries at an international conference taking place in Brussels.
Letter from EU Healthy Air Coalition to MEPs: Support the trilogue deal for cleaner air and better health
16th April 2024
The EU Healthy Air Coalition has sent a letter to members of the European Parliament,…
HEAL and Mutualités Libres’ conference: Healthy cities, healthy people – Pathways for clean air in the EU’s urban environments
14th March 2024
On 23 April 2024, HEAL and the Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds (MLOZ) will be organising an international conference in Brussels, under the auspices of the Belgian EU Presidency.
Science review: The health impacts of nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
30th June 2023
A new science review commissioned by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) shows the significant impact of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on health.
Health threats of short-term winter smog in Poland
16th May 2023
Today, HEAL Poland has published an analysis of particulate matter air pollution in Poland during…
Toolkit (EN, IT, DE): Advocating for clean air – how to communicate the science
19th July 2022
HEAL has produced a science to policy communications toolkit for fellow NGOs and anyone working on clean air advocacy.
Recommendations from the Turkish health sector on improving air quality
30th June 2022
Turkey is a country with a high burden of disease from air pollution. Poor air…
Health experts demand more attention and action on the public health threat of wood burning in the Western Balkans
27th January 2022
The Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) has today launched a briefing exploring the public health threat of wood-burning in the Western Balkans, as a major contributor to air pollution in the region. The briefing presents evidence-based arguments on wood burning and scientific data to support decision-making, as the Western Balkans and the EU shift to a carbon-neutral and healthy future.
Toolkit on ‘Communicating on air quality and health’
10th October 2018
In spite of the work carried out by the EU institutions, the Member States, many…
New infographic on the health and climate threat from wood burning
11th March 2024
A new infographic entitled “Wood burning: a false solution fuelling the climate crisis and harming…
Infographic: What is nitrogen dioxide and how does exposure to it affect your health?
23rd November 2023
The new HEAL infographic in English and Polish outlines the most important facts about nitrogen dioxide and its impact on health and highlights what actions should be taken to protect people the pollutant.
Clean Air for Health – the disease burden caused by air pollution
26th June 2023
Air pollution is the top environmental threat to health in Europe. It leads to hundreds…
HEAL’s demands for clean air for health, for everyone
11th April 2023
Air pollution is the top environmental risk to health in Europe and everyone is vulnerable…
HEAL and European Cancer Leagues relaunch infographic illustrating how Europe can prevent cancer by tackling environmental pollutants
25th May 2022
To mark the start of the European Week Against Cancer 2022, the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) and the European Cancer Leagues (ECL) have teamed up to relaunch an infographic telling the story behind environmental cancer prevention.
Letter from EU Healthy Air Coalition to MEPs: Support the trilogue deal for cleaner air and better health
16th April 2024
The EU Healthy Air Coalition has sent a letter to members of the European Parliament,…
Health organisations call on MEPs to support the trilogue deal for cleaner air and better health
6th March 2024
Next Monday 11 March, the ENVI committee will be voting on “Ambient air quality and…
European health sector letter to EU environment ministers: swiftly adopt AAQD deal
5th March 2024
HEAL and six more organisations representing the European health sector have sent a letter to…
Gemeinsamer Brief an Ministerin Lemke: Unterstützung der Bundesregierung für Gesundheitsschutz in der Novellierung der EULuftqualitätsrichtlinie
19th February 2024
Die Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit e.V. (KLUG) und die Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)…
National health groups’ letters to ministers for an ambitious Ambient Air Quality Directive
19th February 2024
As the Ambient Air Quality Directive revision negotiations are ramping up ahead of the final trilogue tomorrow (20 February) health experts from across the EU, including from France, Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy and Spain, have sent letters to their national ministers, warning decision makers about the potential impacts of exemptions and delays.
Letter to German environment minister: more action to improve air quality in Germany
15th December 2023
The German Climate and Health Alliance (KLUG) and HEAL have sent a joint letter to the environment minister of Germany Lemke, calling for more action to improve air quality, instead of exemptions and delays.
Wichtige Entscheidung im EU-Parlament für saubere Luft und Gesundheit
25th April 2024
Das Europäische Parlament hat heute mit großer Mehrheit (381 Stimmen) die vorläufige Trilog-Vereinbarung zur Überarbeitung…
Press note: The EU Healthy Air Coalition welcomes European Parliament vote for cleaner air and better health
24th April 2024
The European Parliament adopted today by a large majority the provisional trilogue agreement on the revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives (AAQD), to update the EU’s clean air standards dating from 2008.
Press release: Clean air in cities for better health
23rd April 2024
Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to everyone's health across the EU, and one of the leading risk factors for chronic diseases. Today, pathways to reach clean air in cities by 2030 will be discussed by more than 340 participants from 33 countries at an international conference taking place in Brussels.
EU geht wichtigen Schritt, um Menschen europaweit vor Luftverschmutzung zu schützen
21st February 2024
Berlin / Brüssel, 21. Februar 2024 Gesundheitsexpert:innen begrüßen die gestern im Trilog erzielte Einigung zur Aktualisierung der…
Press release: Faced with a public health emergency from air pollution, the EU is one step closer to finally tackling it
21st February 2024
Health groups across Europe call for the European Parliament and member states to swiftly adopt the agreement reached in trilogue on updating EU’s clean air standards (revised Ambient Air Quality Directive). The deal includes updates on maximum levels for the major air pollutants, strengthened monitoring requirements, better information to people including vulnerable groups. The draft law also introduces new access to justice and compensation rules.
Press note: Health groups from across the EU call for ambitious air quality law
19th February 2024
As the Ambient Air Quality Directive revision negotiations are ramping up ahead of the final trilogue on 20 February 2024 health experts from across the EU, including from Germany, Poland, Italy, France and Spain, warn decision makers about the potential impacts of exemptions and delays.
